I think if we can teach kids to live a healthier lifestyle and have fun doing it, then we are essentially creating a healthier future.

My solution to the childhood obesity crisis is a health-based cooking TV show. I believe that TV is an easy way to get the message out and get it to as many people as possible. I also believe that if kids will cook healthier, they’ll eat healthier. The show is fun to watch because I AM a kid, I like to have fun and be silly and still get an important message across.

Through the show, I can teach kids about the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle and what they can do to start this path. I also aim for recipes that don’t cost too much because I want to make it as easy as possible for all families to eat healthier.

When I first started, I wasn’t really taken seriously because I was “just a little girl doing web videos” and “how cute” it was. But then, I showed them what I really was doing and the colossal issue I am battling and I started to turn heads.

I had the awesome opportunity to partner with Sodexo as their National Student Ambassador for Health and Nutrition which jump-started me to a higher platform. As the Student Ambassador, I travel to schools, zoos, museums, hospitals, and fitness centers across the country to talk about the importance of healthy eating and do cooking demos to show how easy it can be.

I have been able to talk with so many kids about their health habits, their favorite fruits and vegetables, the things they like and dislike about school lunches, and what they thing it means to be healthy. I have heard some kids just come up and hug me and that’s when I really know I’m making a change for the better.

Being that the childhood obesity epidemic is directly linked to food insecurity, I am also focused on childhood hunger. By splitting my focus between these two issues, I know that I can help more families, not just across the US, but across the world.

I am also able to sustain my social enterprise through multiple product lines I've created which generate income. These are:

cookbooks

salad dressings

Chef Club Boxes

Below is a list of supporting documents and different ways people can help:

When I was 9 years old, I had a passion and I turned this passion to a business. In 2009, I created Cook Time with Remmi because of my love of food and love of helping other people. I created Cook Time with Remmi as a way to connect kids having fun in the kitchen, like I did, along with preventing the childhood obesity epidemic. I noticed this issue around me, as Oklahoma is one of the unhealthiest states in the US. I soon found that other people cared about this issue as much as I did and that’s when I received sponsorships and partnerships to create my TV show and have the amazing opportunity to work with the kids directly and teach families about healthy eating and how fun it can be. I love being able to talk with the kids and interact with them because I want to show them that they, too, can make a difference!

Impact

Advice for my peers

Jan. 25, 2016

I’ve learned that kids like to listen to other kids, that’s why I host the show. It makes easier for other kids to relate and understand the problem and be a part of the solution.

My advice for my peers is this: Know your stuff. If you know a lot about the issue and you have a solution that you really are passionate about and are confident in, then your credibility is trustworthy and anyone you work with or want to work with will see this. Also, don’t be afraid of things going wrong. When I first started I was really scared that too many things weren’t going the way I expected and I didn’t really want to continue on. But, I soon realized bad things are going to happen; failure will occur. You just have be able to adapt and learn from these experiences to make you a better leader.

One last thing, look for a mentor. Someone who has had experience in the field you want to conquer or someone who can give you a piece of advice or two on what your next step should be. Below is a video detailing my impact to date:

be a "C.H.E.F."

Jan. 22, 2016

A chef has a responsibility of to ensure wellness, which is why I believe everyone should strive to be a "C.H.E.F." Cook Healthy / Exercise Frequently.

If we can all do our parts to live a healthier lifestyle, then we can all make a difference.

If you notice someone around you who struggles with obesity, be their cheerleader to help them cook healthier, eat healthier, and exercise more. One of the ways that I keep my content fresh is by taping a "Fun Food Fact Friday" which is short and easily shared.

Sodexo Student Ambassador

Jan. 18, 2016

Sodexo -- a global food services mangement conpany -- selected me to become their first-ever Student Ambassador for Health and Nutrition for North America. In this role, I provide cooking demonstrations for kids, like the one photographed below by the Courier Tribune at Asheboro High School Zoo.

I work with Sodexo executive chefs in more than 500 school districts representing more than 3-million students!

TV Spots!

Sept. 21, 2015

Also, check out my TV spot on Good Day Washington and some of my favorite fall recipies!